The Nelson Mandela Bay District Detective Service has secured a significant conviction in a series of complex insurance fraud cases. Monelwa Gwani, 55, was found guilty on three counts of fraud in the Kariega Regional Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 09 December 2025.
Gwani’s conviction stems from a multidisciplinary operation in September 2023, during which she was arrested alongside other suspects in Kwanobuhle and Despatch. The suspects were wanted in connection with multiple fraud cases, where the motive for the crimes—described by investigators as being driven by greed and deception—was to lodge fraudulent insurance claims.
The court heard exhaustive evidence detailing how Gwani submitted fraudulent claims to three major insurers. She was subsequently convicted on three separate counts of fraud against Sanlam, Hollard, and Momentum.
Following the guilty verdict, the court handed down the following sentences:
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Count 1 (Fraud): 5 years imprisonment
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Count 2 (Fraud): 5 years imprisonment
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Count 3 (Fraud): 5 years imprisonment
The court ordered that the sentences run concurrently.